Hollywood Reacts To Dick Clark's Death

Ryan Seacrest is widely seen as the current generation’s Dick Clark, hosting a popular music series with American in the title among his multiple roles in radio and growing TV production company. So it was no surprise when Seacrest joined Clark’s annual Dick Clark New Year’s Rockin’ Eve show as host to replace Clark, who suffered a serious stroke in 2004. Seacrest was among the throng of industry names to weigh in on Clark’s passing today at age 82. Here’s Seacrest’s statement:

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend Dick Clark. He has truly been one of the greatest influences in my life. I idolized him from the start, and I was graced early on in my career with his generous advice and counsel. When I joined his show in 2006, it was a dream come true to work with him every New Year’s Eve for the last six years. He was smart, charming, funny and always a true gentleman. I learned a great deal from him, and I’ll always be indebted to him for his faith and support of me. He was a remarkable host and businessman and left a rich legacy to television audiences around the world. We will all miss him.”

Refresh for latest…

Others also added their voices, including Robert Iger, Walt Disney Co. chairman/CEO>

For more than half a century, Dick Clark brought the best of American music to audiences across the country, creating careers and countless fans for artists on his iconic shows, American Bandstand and New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. We’re proud that ABC was home to those programs and will always be part of his legacy. On behalf of everyone at Disney and ABC, we send our sincere condolences to Dick’s family, as well as the three generations of fans who will miss him as much as we do.

Recent Comments

Spent 3o years working for this sweet honest man, you will be missed Boss, but all that...

Modigliani

3 years

First Don Cornelius and now, Dick Clark…. My Saturday mornings as a child in NYC were set...

linda forsythe

3 years

Loved dick clark! will not be the same ! ONE OF A KIND GUY! watched American bandstand,...

“The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is deeply saddened by the loss of our good friend Mr. Dick Clark. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. Dick was a television icon and music innovator who entertained audiences for decades and will truly be missed. Television shows like American Bandstand, American Music Awards and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve are brands that continue to pave the way live television and music are presented. Dick was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1992 and his impact on the television industry as well as everyone he met, moved and entertained will never be forgotten.”

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose city has hosted Clark’s New Year’s Eve show since 1972:

“Times Square is considered the crossroads of the world in no small part because Dick Clark’s New Years Eve celebrations there were beamed across the globe. I remember one New Years Eve, he and I stood in Times Square marveling about how much the area – and the City – had improved over the years. But Dick Clark never had to change – he was a great entertainer who stood the test of time. Generations of Americans grew up with Dick, and yet he seemed forever young. His spirit will always live on in Times Square, and in hearts of millions of New Yorkers.”

The music industry benefited as much as TV did thanks to Clark’s American Bandstand. From the Recording Industry Association of America:

“We have lost a true American icon, trailblazer and legend in Dick Clark. More music, over multiple generations of fans, has been brought into hearts, minds and homes than perhaps any other figure in history – including many of our most beloved artists in their very first television appearances, especially on the singular American Bandstand. It is one thing to champion music and simply change the landscape – it’s quite another thing to do so for more than 60 years. He was of course a brilliant businessman. From the American Music Awards, Rockin’ New Year’s Eve and Top 40 Countdown to television shows such as $100,000 Pyramid, he is simply part of the American fabric. But even more so, his trademark voice, style, passion for music and seemingly eternal youth will forever be part of our consciousness.”

Twitter has become the go-to place for Clark’s industry pals to send their condolences:

Anderson Cooper: What a career Dick Clark had! What a life! My thoughts are with his family and friends.

Joan Rivers: Very sad to hear about Dick Clark. What a great life. What a great career. Relevant until the end. He will be missed!

Janet Jackson: Dick Clark changed the face of musical television. He was wonderful to many artists including our family. We will miss him. God bless.

Micky Dolenz: RIP Dick Clark…He produced the first Monkees tour in 1967…A legend~

22 Comments

RIP Dick Clark, New Years eve will never be the same. I am deeply saddened by this. God rest his soul, he was truly a LEGEND!

linda forsythe • on Apr 18, 2012 4:13 pm

Loved dick clark! will not be the same ! ONE OF A KIND GUY! watched American bandstand, special anniversary specials, rockin new years eve,A class act! Made the artist feel special,very shocked to hear , cried, such a huge loss to music fans game show fans God bless you dick clark! class act!

JK • on Apr 18, 2012 4:13 pm

He said it best every time he signed off a show, and now we say it here…

Dick Clark gave us decades of great entertainment.
He was a part of our lives.
Now he will be in our hearts forever.

George Vreeland Hill

Mr. Monsanto • on Apr 18, 2012 4:13 pm

So sudden and shocking. Unbelievable.

Anonymous • on Apr 18, 2012 4:13 pm

I thought he would live forever! :( RIP Dick!

Cheryl • on Apr 18, 2012 4:13 pm

I so remember this American Bandstand legend. RIP Mr.Clark.

Toni De Luca • on Apr 18, 2012 4:13 pm

“SO LONG” MR. CLARK Your Legacy Will Live Forever!! RIP. “(

Oleg • on Apr 18, 2012 4:13 pm

End of the era with passing of Dick Clark.

melissa • on Apr 18, 2012 4:13 pm

Mr. Seacrest is narrowly, in my opinion, not “seen as this generation’s Dick Clark”, in response to the broad stroke in your column which states he is “widely seen” as such. What creativity, other than financial positioning and connections, does Mr. Seacrest bring to our music culture, and, oh yes, his “ultrabrite” smile? What a shallow assumption. How has he earned a comparison to a music pioneer?

Jed • on Apr 18, 2012 4:13 pm

No matter what one might have thought of Dick Clark personally and in the public eye, he did help revolutionize the TV and music industry and he should be commended for that, but at least he won’t have to suffer anymore and he is now in a better place but I’ll tell ya…Rockin Eve will never ever be the same without him.

Dick you will be truely missed..I remember watching american bandstand in the afternoons..all the time when I was younger..you are going be really miss on new year eve..my prayers go out to your family..This is Dick Clark So Long R.I.P.

kaytie • on Apr 18, 2012 4:13 pm

ive wachted new year eve rock party every year i saw mr dicck clack no matter how he was good or bad he always there to wish happy new year now who will do it this time

john rojas • on Apr 18, 2012 4:13 pm

Dick clark had true respect for people. And had a great sense of humor r.i.p

jarlerguy • on Apr 18, 2012 4:13 pm

Not a particularly nice man. Sorry folks. This was a guy who chased folks off a public beach near his house in Malibu, sending out his private security, a man who battled coastal access for years. And how exactly did he get off during the payola scandals of the ’50s? What kind of deal did he make with Congress? You can’t deny the prolific professional contributions of the man, but there was clearly a dark side.

Scott MacDonough • on Apr 18, 2012 4:13 pm

To jarlerguy: There’s “a dark side” to virtually everyone who makes it to the top. But this is hardly the appropriate time to bring it up. I prefer to celebrate Dick Clark as the Pied Piper of the Baby Boomer generation, a man who supported black entertainers during an era of horrendous racial discrimination. For that alone, he deserves our eternal gratitude. R.I.P. Mr. Clark. You will be missed and remembered for many generations to come.

First Don Cornelius and now, Dick Clark…. My Saturday mornings as a child in NYC were set with these two influential definers of a bygone era for generations of Americans who loved dancing and pop music.

Love, peace and soul… So long.

RIP you legends.

mark f hill • on Apr 18, 2012 4:13 pm

Spent 3o years working for this sweet honest man, you will be missed Boss, but all that you tough me is till with me.Honesty Integrity Respectability and end the show on TIME. RIP Boss